Price-computing scale-beam.



I No. 673,096. Patented Apr. 30, 90l.

E. THORNE. PRICE COMPUTING SCALE BEAM.

(Application filed Oct. 13, 1900.)

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, Patented Apr. 30, IBM.

-E. THURNE.

PRICE COMPUTING SCALE BEAM.

(Applicltion fllodOct. 18, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE THORNE, OF HENDERSON, NORTH-CAROLINA.

PRICE-COMPUTING SCALE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 673,096, dated April 30,1901. Application filed October 13,1900. berial No. 32,967. i (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE THORNE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Henderson, in the county of Vance and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPrice-Computing Scale-Beams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to price-computing beam-scales, such as are used bymerchants, traders, or the like. It is equally applicable to a number ofthe different types of beamscales, including portable platform andstationary warehouse scales.

It is the object of my invention to provide a beam for scales of theabove class whereon computed values of articles Weighed may bedetermined at stated prices; also, to provide in connection therewithmeans whereby given quantities or specified worths of any commodity atstated prices may be quickly weighed with comparatively little or noreckoning on the part of the operator, and, further, to accomplish theabove results in the most practical, compact, and simplest manner, so asto produce a marketable and practical scale which will be sought afterby the trade.

With the above and other minor objects in view my invention resides andconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts shown uponthe accompanying two sheets of drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, upon which similar characters of reference denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several figures, and of which Figure1 shows a perspective view of a platform-scale, such as is used bybutchers and other tradesmen, with my improved pricecomputing beamattached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation of myimproved scale-beam detached, the same being broken to contract thelength of the illustration, one of the weights being in an advancedposition. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation broken away,similar to Fig. 2, the weights, however, being differently adjusted.Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the forward weight whichcarries the price-numerals. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of aweight used upon the lower section of my beam whereby one or moredollars worth is readily weighed. Fig. 6 is a secondary weight which inpractice is attached to the weight shown in Fig. 5 and whereby anadditional dollars worth may be secured by its use.

As before stated, my invention resides solely in the construction of ascale-beam, the details of which may be changed to adapt it to anyparticular make of scale.

In Fig. 1 I have shown my improved beam connected to a popular form ofscale in the usual manner, and wherein A represents the scale-platform,B B vertical supports, and C framework carried by said supports. To theframe 0 is secured a post D to receive pivotal lugs E of the beam F andwhereby the latter is supported.

Gr represents a link which is hung upon the pivotal lugs H of the beam,and to this link is attached a rod I, which extends down through thehollow column B and is connected to the mechanism beneath the platformA. I attach a guide J to the outer end of the frame 0 to limit theoperative movement of the beam, as will be obvious. The beam may also beprovided with any suitable balancing mechanism-such, for instance, as anadjustable weight K, as shown in Fig. 1.

My improved beam F contains two series of weights, one of which ismounted upon the upper or main part (b of the beam and the other uponthe lower part I). Said main part a may be divided into any number ofpounds and value graduations with numerals affixed. I have shown in theaccompanying drawings seventeen horizontal lines of value 0 upon thebeam (see Figs. 2 and 3) and ten vertical lines 61, which latterindicate pounds when traversed by the three weights L, M, and N. Thesethree weights L, M, and N when operated together represent pounds, butwhen used separately indicate quarteror half pound weights-as, forinstance, if the weight L were adjusted to the one-pound mark but aquarter of a pound would really be represented, while if the two weightsL and M were moved up to the same position a half-pound would beindicated, and a whole pound with all three weights. The forward weightL is provided with extensions 0 O, in the outer ends of which I mount aprice-schedule P, which is adapted to be read in connection with thevalue-numerals 0 upon the beam and used in connection with the threeweights L, M, and N, before mentioned. Said leaves are adapted to beturned forward and used in connection with one or a series of theseweights, as desired. The slight shifting of the center of gravity of thepoise caused by the movement of these leaves is provided for in theoriginal construction of the weights, which can be done since saidleaves at all times occupy the same position with relation to the weightor weights with which they are used. In the drawings I have shown thisschedule as consisting of three leaves 6, f, and g, hinged to a shaftcarried by the extensions 0. Each of these leaves (see Figs. 2, 3, and4) has indicated thereon seventeen price-nrunerals, the first onerangingfrom four to twelve and onehalf cents in value, while the secondone (see Fig. 3) contains numerals in corresponding positions of twicethe value of the first set and ranging from eight to twenty-five cents,while the third leaf (see Fig. 4) contains a still higher set ofnumerals, which range from sixteen to fifty cents. These price-numeralsall register with the longitudinal graduated line 0 upon the beam and inpractice are adapted to be read in connection therewith, as will againbe referred to. Said longitudinal lines 0 are graduated or divided intospaces ranging from four to twelve and one-half, the nu mber increasingfrom top to bottom.

From the foregoing it will be understood that if all three of theweights L, M, and N were adjusted to the two-pound line, as per thedotted lines in Fig. 2, two pounds would be weighed, and with theseweights you would use the price-leaf e, and if you were selling at fivecents per pound you would find the numeral 10 adjacent thereto in thethird orfive-centline 0. (See Fig. 2.) 0n the other hand, if the articlewere selling at twenty cents per pound and you desired ten cents worthyou would use only the weight L at the two-pound mark, as shown in fulllines, and in connection therewith the leaf g. (Shown in Fig. 4.) Thusyou would have adjacent to the price twenty the same value-numeral l0,informing you that a half-pound at twenty cents amounted to ten cents.The same line of reckoning would be carried out throughout the severallines of value-graduations as, for instance, in the bottom line you have25, which would be opposite the sellingprice 50 on leaf g, thus showingthat onequarter of two pounds at fifty cents per pound amounted to ahalfpound, the value of which is twenty-five cents.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that I have illustrated the useof the two quarterpound weights L and M, which combined representone-half pound, in connection with price-leaff, which contains numeralsof twice the value of the leaf eand one-half the value of the leaf g. Inthis figure the weights are stationed at the ten-pound mark, but beinghalf pounds in weight represent but five pounds. Thus we find oppositethe pricenumeral 1O the value-numeral 50, showing that five pounds atten cents amounts to fifty cents. By this arrangement of weights andschedule it will be apparent that I am enabled to give, in combinationwith the longitudinally lined and n u meraled beam, three distinctseries of value-prices, each adapted to be used in conjunction with aspecified weight or series of weights.

In addition to the above mechanism for computing the prices upon thebeam I arrange in connection therewith an additional series ofgraduations N with weights therefor, whereby given amounts may readilybe secured at stated prices without reference to the pound-marks, beforedescribed, upon the beam. It will be seen that upon the lower section bof the beam I arrange a series of price-graduations h, which I prefer tohave correspond with the combined numerals of the three leaves 6, f, andg, thus including price-numerals ranging from four to fifty cents,including a few fractional numerals shown upon the leaf 6. A weight Q ismounted upon the beam Z), which in practice represents a given amountas,for instance, one dollar. This weight is adjustable to any of thegraduated numerals 7L, referred to, so that if it is desired to secure adollars worth of a commodity at fifty cents per pound you would slip thedollar-weight Q, up to the nu meral 50, as indicated in Fig. 3, andbalance the scale with the commodity, thus giving the amount desired. Ifa dollars worth of another commodity selling at six cents is desired,the same weight would be adjusted farther out upon the beam in line withthe numeral 6, thus giving you the dollars worth of that commodity. Inaddition to the weight Q, I desire to use any number of secondaryweights It, which may be attached to the weight Q in any suitable wayas,for instane, by supporting them upon pins S, as shown in the drawings.Thus it will be noted that two, three, or four dollars worth may beweighed out at a given price in the same manner as one dollars worth, asgiven by the single weight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. A. scale-beam having pound-graduations thereon, and a series ofhorizontally-arranged value numerals, of a series of adjustable weightson said beam to be used singly or in the series, an equal number ofprice-leaflets pivotally hung to one of said weights, each adapted to beturned forward and read in connection with the value-numerals upon thebeam, substantially as described.

2. In a scale-beam of the class described, the combination of a seriesof horizontally-arranged value-numerals, of aseries of weights upon saidbeam, a series of leaflets pivotally hung to the foremost one of saidweights, each having a distinct series of prices thereon to be used witheach weight and in conjunction with said value-numerals upon the beam,in a manner to give computed value of a commodity at stated prices.

3. In a price-computing scale-beam, the combination with value-numeralsarranged upon the beam, three weights adj ustably mounted thereon,adapted to be used singly or jointly as desired, three price-leafletspivot-ed to one of said Weights adapted to be read with one, two orthree of said weights and in connection with the Valuenumerals upon thebeam, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a computing scale-beam, the combination with horizontally-arrangedvalue-numerals, of a series of weights mounted upon said beam,extensions on the foremost of said series, price-leaflets pivoted insaid extensions With numerals of difierent values upon each andregistering with the value-numerals upon the beam, in a manner to beread in connection therewith.

5. The combination with a scale-beam having longitudinally-arrangedvalue-numerals thereon, a series of weights mounted upon said beam,leaflets pivotally attached to the foremost of said weights, eachleaflet having a series of price-numerals represented thereon for use inconnection with each Weight, adapted to be read singly orin multipleswith the value-numerals upon the beam, substantially as described.

6. In a computing scale-beam having a series of lines of valuerepresented thereon, of a series of Weights adjustably mounted on saidbeam, indicator-leaflets pivotally carried by one of said weights, eachleaflet containing a series of price-numerals to register with thevalues upon the beam, a second beam having a series of price-graduationscorresponding With those upon the indicators, and a stated-value weightadapted to be adjusted to said 11 umerals upon the second beam,wherebystated amounts may be secured at a given price.

Signed at Henderson,in the county of Vance and State of North Carolina,this 1st day of October, A. D. 1900.

EUGENE THORNE.

Witnesses:

B. I. POW LL, JAcoUEs PHELPS.

